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Posts Tagged ‘North Carolina Tar Heels’

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March 4th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Missouri Tigers @ Kansas Jayhawks
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 12:00 ET
Location: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, MO
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

If the Jayhawks think that they are going to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, they badly need to collect this win on the road. That would take a lot of pressure off for winning the Big XII Tournament, as there are a ton of teams that are going to be gunning for that crown that need wins in big time ways over teams like these. Mizzou really hasn’t played spectacular ball of late, and it really could use a boost just to get some momentum going and to avoid falling into that seemingly inevitably dreaded 8/9 matchup in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Kansas is a far superior team in terms of talent, and it really showed the first time around when these two met at Allen Fieldhouse. Sure, the intensity really kicks up a notch when you’re playing on the road, especially in a game that is this big, but the Jayhawks should be able to handle themselves. The oddsmakers will give too much respect to the Tigers, and KU will get the job done and lock up the regular season conference crown and the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament.

Free College Basketball Picks: Kansas Jayhawks

Matchup: Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Connecticut Huskies
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 2:00 ET
Location: XL Center, Storrs, CT
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

The Fighting Irish have to feel like they have a legitimate chance of being a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but they are going to need to win the Big East and probably beat the Pitt Panthers to do it. There’s a chance to draw level for the Big East regular season crown as well, and that’s a coveted thing for any team to have on its resume for a top seed in the dance. Connecticut really just needs to feel like it has to ability to win it all in what will be the last home game for Kemba Walker before he heads to the NBA. Walker can take this game over like none other, and though the Irish will inevitably throw everything they can at him including the kitchen sink, it isn’t going to be enough. Notre Dame will get rocked on the that day is designed for Walker to shine.

Free NCAA Basketball Picks: Connecticut Huskies

Matchup: Villanova Wildcats @ Pittsburgh Panthers
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 4:00 ET
Location: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

Villanova is in a world of hurt right now, as it is really playing poor ball at a poor time of year to be doing so. The Cats have dropped three in a row going into this, the final, and arguably most difficult game of the entire season. They’ve also lost seven out of 11 and don’t look anything like a team that even belongs in March Madness, let alone belongs there as a respectable seed. Pittsburgh’s defense is just downright nasty, as it hasn’t allowed more than 66 points in a game in almost two full months, including a 57-54 win over Nova in the City of Brotherly Love four weeks ago. Ashton Gibbs, Brad Wanamaker, Gilbert Brown… it’s all just too much for the Wildcats to handle right now. They just don’t stand a chance of going into the Steel City and doing any damage, and it’ll show in another lopsided defeat.

College Basketball Free Picks: Pittsburgh Panthers

Matchup: Florida Gators @ Vanderbilt Commodores
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 6:00 ET
Location: Memorial Gym, Nashville, TN
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

This is a tough one, because both the Gators and the Dores are fantastic at what they do. Believe it or not, Florida already has eight wins on the road this season, which is a ton for a team that really didn’t do much in the way of scheduling out of conference on the road this year (though there are wins against Xavier and Florida State to speak of). Vandy has those 14 wins at home though, and they’re going to be hard to overlook. Chandler Parsons and the crew are very thin, yet they are very talented as well. UF is really hoping to get up onto the No. 3 line or so for the NCAA Tournament, and a win like this would go a long way to ensuring that. We just don’t buy into Vandy though, as there are a lot of fluff wins that just don’t look all that great when push comes to shove. The 21 wins for the regular season is nice, but knowing that the oddsmakers are going to treat this home court advantage worth a whole slew of points, we have to back the blue and orange.

NCAA Basketball Free Picks: Florida Gators

Matchup: Duke Blue Devils @ North Carolina Tar Heels
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 8:00 ET
Location: Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB


First place in the ACC and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament are on the line in Chapel Hill on Saturday, and the oddsmakers are really going to have to take a close look at just how good they think that UNC really is. The Tar Heels are certainly flying through everyone in the ACC right now, and they were able to do something this past week that Duke wasn’t able to do: Beat Florida State on the road. Granted, the Noles didn’t have Chris Singleton, but it was UNC’s second win against the garnet and gold this year, and the first time around, Singleton was playing, and the game was a blowout from the get go. This challenge against the Dookies the first time around was a solid one, as North Carolina challenged the whole way and blew a huge lead. This time, it will make amends and make things right. The Carolina Blue clad nation will be out and in full force in a game that is going to feel like the Super Bowl on Tobacco Road. Coach K knows that there are bigger and more important battles to fight than this one, and though the Blue Devils will end up losing this battle, their goal is to win the war and to defend their NCAA Championship.

College Basketball Expert Picks: Duke Blue Devils

Matchup: Texas Longhorns @ Baylor Bears
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 9:00 ET
Location: Ferrell Center, Waco, TX
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

We know that this isn’t a Top 25 battle, but this is arguably the most meaningful game of the entire day. For the Longhorns, they’re hoping to snap out of this two game funk and to get back on track for a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Winning this one and winning the Big XII would still inevitably get the job done. However, a loss and an early exit from the Big XII Tourney could result in a disastrous No. 4 seed, which could make the first round of the dance very, very interesting. Jordan Hamilton, Tristan Thompson and company have the talent to beat anyone in America, but thanks to how inexperienced this club really is, nothing is a guarantee. For Baylor, it really needs this signature win to pad its resume for the NCAA Tournament. A loss will likely leave it with a lot of work to do to get into March Madness. A win will almost certainly get the job done with just one win in the Big XII Tournament (and even that might not be necessary). There’s too much on the line here for Baylor to get beaten, and we tend to believe that it will get the job done once and for all and make its case to go dancing.

NCAA Basketball Free Picks: Baylor Bears

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February 7th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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There aren't two rivals in the college basketball betting world that hate each other more than the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels. These two teams will renew their ties on Wednesday night on Tobacco Road, as the Dookies try to get back on the No. 1 line for the NCAA Tournament.

Matchup: North Carolina Tar Heels @ Duke Blue Devils
Date: Wednesday, February 9th, 9:00 ET
Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, NC

Tar Heels Notes: The Tar Heels are back in the Top 25, and Head Coach Roy Williams has to wonder if he has really gotten his team back to a level in which it can compete for the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. Of course, we can't get all that excited about North Carolina due to the fact that it was only last year that the team had to go on the road to win games in the NIT. Playing without Larry Drew II is going to be interesting in this one. Though he was demoted out of the starting lineup, he was definitely the experienced ball handler that knows how to deal with the Cameron Crazies. Even though Drew is gone, the Heels are certainly rolling. They are 5-0 SU and ATS since getting blown away by 20 points by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on the road. The offense has averaged 85.6 points per game in that stretch, one of the best marks in the conference and in the country. We can't ignore the play of Harrison Barnes. The freshman phenom was supposed to bring UNC to the next level, and perhaps he is about to start doing that. He has scored a total of 49 points in his last two duels to lead the Tar Heels. Still, Barnes is the second leading scorer on the team, averaging just 13.3 points per game. Tyler Zeller has been a constant all season long. He is averaging 14.1 points per game on the campaign, and though this isn't what was expected this year, it is more points than he has scored in total over the course of the last two years combined.

Blue Devils Notes: The Blue Devils are still dominating the ACC this year, as they only have that one loss on the road to the Florida State Seminoles and the aberration against the St. John's Red Storm at Madison Square Garden. Duke is really an offense juggernaut this year once again, the same way that it was last year when it made its epic run to the National Championship. Things just haven't looked the same over the course of the last nine games though, as the Dookies are averaging "just" 77.9 points per game in that stretch. Without Kyrie Irving, who is still nursing his toe injury, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith are leading the way. Smith is averaging 21.0 points per game this year, and he has really come a long way to help keep this team in the Top 5 in the country. Singler's shooting percentage is a tad down at 44.6 percent this year, but he is getting the job done overall at 18.0 points per game. The defense is fantastic as well for Coach K as always. His team is conceding 64.6 points per game this year, and opponents are only shooting 40.5 percent from the floor. Keep an eye on Mason Plumlee as well, who has back to back double-doubles against some of the best big men in the ACC.

The Final Word: North Carolina is going to be in a world of hurt in this one. Drew's numbers weren't all that great this year, but these guards are really going to be up against it in baby blue. The Dookies should be able to romp to a double digit victory in front of the hometown crowd, especially after romping to a 32 point win in this fixture last season.

Free College Basketball Picks: Duke Blue Devils

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December 30th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The great of Tennessee is going to be decked out in white and orange with fans screaming the lyrics to Rocky Top at the tops of their lungs on Thursday, as the Tennessee Volunteers will essentially play host to the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Music City Bowl Matchup: North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Date: Thursday, December 30th, 6:30 ET
Location: LP Field, Nashville, TN
Music City Bowl Line: Tennessee pk
Over/Under 50.5

Tar Heels Notes: Give Head Coach Butch Davis some credit for really surging through this year in spite of the fact that he lost a ton of players due to ineligibility right at the outset of the season. The men in baby blue really could have just curled into a ball and died, but they continued to fight to make it here to the Music City Bowl. They were clearly playing in the better half of the ACC, as the Coastal Division provided a ton of challenges. This was still a very respectable club offensively this year, averaging 335.0 yards and 22.9 points per game allowed, but there just wasn't enough here to be the truly dominating force that we were expecting at the start of the season. Offensively, QB TJ Yates did a great job without really having a ton of help. He threw for 3,184 yards and 18 TDs against eight picks, and though those numbers aren't exactly screaming at you, he was a much maligned signal caller before this year and has seemed to win over some of the faithful in Chapel Hill. WR Dwight Jones was the only man in this offense that caught more than 30 passes or had more than 400 yards this year. He snared 57 balls for 895 yards. RB Johnny White had 720 yards on the ground and visited the end zone seven times.

Volunteers Notes: If you want to talk about some fantastic coaching jobs though, you really have to talk about Head Coach Derek Dooley. Dooley was a very, very late hire in Knoxville this year, as he was still the man in charge of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs until deep into the recruiting season. Though that may ultimately cost the boys from Rocky Top down the road, it is clear that Dooley knows what he is doing and is capable of eventually turning this program back around into prominence. He pushed the perfect button in the final four games of the season and gave up on QB Matt Simms, instead electing to go to QB Tyler Bray. Bray promptly dropped 102 points in two games against the Memphis Tigers and Mississippi Rebels, and he never looked back down the stretch. Bray threw for 1,537 yards and 14 TDs against seven picks. The only thing really working against him this year was his completion percentage, which was an iffy 54.7. RB Tauren Poole had 994 yards on the ground this year with 11 scores. The top receiver was WR Denarius Moore, who caught 43 passes for 912 yards, a whopping 21.2 yards per catch average. Moore scored nine times on the campaign.

The Final Word: Though North Carolina might be the more talented team (and certainly would be the more talented team if not for all of the suspensions), it just isn't going to be able to overcome the red hot Volunteers in this one. The men from Rocky Top have a renewed sense of winning right now that came with that four game roll at the end of the season, and anything less than a Music Bowl betting triumph would be a disappointment.

Music City Bowl Free Pick: Tennessee pk
Music City Bowl Prediction: Tennessee 28 – North Carolina 26

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November 12th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Georgia Bulldogs @ Auburn Tigers
Date: Saturday, November 13th, 3:30 ET
Location: Jordan Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Game Line: Auburn -7
Over/Under 62.5

Allegations around QB Cam Newton could really be hurting the college football betting lines in this one, as the Tigers continue to drop like a rock through the day on Friday. We just don't buy into the hype, though. At some point, we all have to realize that there is a reason that the Tigers are 10-0 this year, and a reason why they are considered such heavy favorites against a .500 Georgia team. The Bulldogs just aren't that great. Sure, QB Aaron Murray is going to be a star one day, but he isn't right now, and the only way he becomes a star is if WR AJ Green makes him one. Green is great and will surely get his yards and touches, but that doesn't mean that he can single handedly beat Auburn. There is just too much on the line for HC Gene Chizik, and we aren't buying the fact that the Tigers can't go 12-0 and that they can't figure out how to win the SEC or the National Championship. Newton is one of the best 2-3 players in the entire country, and as long as he is on the field and the NCAA doesn't put the boom down against him in this whole issue with "pay to play" at Auburn, the Tigers are certainly seven points better than the Bulldogs are on any field, especially their own.

Free College Football Picks: Auburn -7
Prediction: Auburn 41 – Georgia 24

Matchup: Penn State Nittany Lions @ Ohio State Buckeyes
Date: Saturday, November 13th, 3:30 ET
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
Game Line: Ohio State -18.5
Over/Under 49.5

The Buckeyes have gone a perfect 6-0 SU and ATS at home this year, and they really don't seem like they're going to get stopped any time in the near future. They have looked relatively flawless, short of that loss to the Wisconsin Badgers, yet the oddsmakers and the pollsters don't seem to be giving them the respect that they deserve. It appears as though the time really is not now for QB Robert Bolden, as he has been replaced by QB Matthew McGloin by HC Joe Paterno. McGloin has played well this year, throwing for 551 yards and seven TDs against just one pick in limited action. However, that limited action doesn't normally include going against a defense anywhere near as good as that of Ohio State. The Nittany Lions were spanked 24-3 on the road by both the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Alabama Crimson Tide this year, and there's no reason to think that a relatively similar score line won't be the end result on Saturday. Don't fall into the trap and assume that this is a lot of points to be giving a 6-3 Penn State team. The Buckeyes really are that good.

Free College Football Picks: Ohio State -18.5
Prediction: Ohio State 30 – Penn State 6

Matchup: Texas Tech Red Raiders @ Oklahoma Sooners
Date: Saturday, November 13th, 3:30 ET
Location: Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK
Game Line: Oklahoma -15
Over/Under 63.5

The Sooners have played down to the level of their competition all season long, and there's no reason to believe that that won't continue on Saturday. There is a major matchup issue here between the Oklahoma secondary, which is allowing over 230 yards per game in ranks in the 80s in the country, going against the Air Raid passing attack, which is always one of the best in the country. Normally, it has been talent at the corner position that has kept the Red Raiders at bay when these two teams meet, but now, we aren't so sure what's going to happen with the Sooners struggling so much. What isn't a question to us is that QB Landry Jones is going to get to the 3,000 yard barrier this week and that he is going to put points on the board. He probably needs to drop at least 40 to stop the Red Raiders at this kind of a college football line, though. Do you have confidence that he can do it and that Texas Tech isn't going to find a way to put 24 or so on the board? We sure don't. We'll take the points.

Free College Football Picks: Texas Tech +15
Prediction: Oklahoma 31 – Texas Tech 27

Matchup: Virginia Tech Hokies @ North Carolina Tar Heels
Date: Saturday, November 13th, 3:30 ET
Location: Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
Game Line: North Carolina +3.5
Over/Under 51.5

We're really amazed that the Tar Heels have really been able to keep up this year with the rest of the ACC in spite of the fact that they have 23 men on scholarship that are either suspended on the injured list at the current moment. HC Butch Davis has done a yeoman's job putting North Carolina on the verge of the Top 25 and potentially within one or two steps of the ACC Championship Game if it can pull off the mild upset here on Saturday. Just one problem: Virginia Tech probably has one of the best ten teams in the country and certainly has the best team in the ACC. The Hokies have been on fire, winning nine straight and going 6-1 ATS since losing to the James Madison Dukes, and with QB Tyrod Taylor finally putting together a fantastic season, we have no reason to believe that the men in purple won't be able to come on the road and pull off a victory by more than a field goal. The Hokies have too much to lose to screw around here, and though the ACC Coastal will still be won if they win out after this game, it could be all over but the crying with a win. HC Frank Beamer won't miss this chance.

Free College Football Picks: Virginia Tech -3.5
Prediction: Virginia Tech 28 – North Carolina 20

Matchup: San Diego State Aztecs @ TCU Horned Frogs
Date: Saturday, November 13th, 4:00 ET
Location: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Game Line: TCU -27
Over/Under 53.5

Way to go Horned Frogs! TCU really has seized control of the BCS Championship picture, and though right now, it would be on the outside looking into the big game and playing in the Rose Bowl instead, we know that this is probably the biggest favorite of it, the Auburn Tigers, and Oregon Ducks to be in the desert for the National Championship Game. San Diego State really couldn't have asked for a better time to run into the Horned Frogs though, as they are coming off of that huge 47-7 win over the Utah Utes on the road. Just one problem: This is TCU's final home game of the season. Do you think that it really wants to leave Fort Worth with anything less than another incredibly dominating victory? Sure, the Aztecs have already played well at the Missouri Tigers this year, but this is a totally different challenge. This year at home, TCU has outscored its foes 221-27 in five games. Without a doubt, this has to be one of the most impressive statistics in the country. Even more impressive? The Horned Frogs are allowing just 8.5 PPG on the season. No way they win this one by less than four TDs.

Free College Football Picks: TCU -27
Prediction: TCU 45 – San Diego State 13

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November 5th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Washington Huskies @ Oregon Ducks
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
Game Line: Oregon -34.5
Over/Under 67.5

Simply put, without QB Jake Locker in the lineup, the Huskies don't even remotely have a chance of hanging around in this game. Locker is the heart and soul of this team, and he has basically accounted for all of the offense this year. Now, QB Keith White is going to thrown into the mix having thrown just nine passes in his entire career. The true frosh won't last against an Oregon offense that has dropped 42 or more points on everyone it has faced this year and is averaging over 575 yards per game. This could be a real showcase for RB LaMichael James, who is gunning for his third 200+ yard rushing game this year, a feat which could certainly be had against a defense that was just run over last week to the tune of 41 points against the Stanford Cardinal. All you'll be hearing atop the BCS rankings for another week is Quack! Quack!

Free College Football Picks: Oregon -34.5
Prediction: Oregon 52 – Washington 10

Matchup: Alabama Crimson Tide @ LSU Tigers
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA
Game Line: LSU +6.5
Over/Under 44

We've already talked quite a bit about this big time tussle in the Bayou, and we think that we have already made our point clear that we love the Bayou Bengals. This is a rough scheduling spot for the Tide even though they are off of their bye week, as it was also a bye for LSU. Giving two weeks for HC Les Miles to draw up more tricks seems to be a little unfair. The question is going to be whether the offense for LSU can really get enough going to keep the Alabama offense out of sync. If the Tide get this game into the high 20s, there is no chance for LSU to survive. However, we've seen the "Mad Hatter" pull off stranger things, and we think the Tigers are going to roar loudly on Saturday.

Free College Football Picks: LSU +6.5
Prediction: LSU 20 – Alabama 16

Matchup: Hawaii Warriors @ Boise State Broncos
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID
Game Line: Boise State -21
Over/Under 66

One would think that the only hope the Warriors have in this one is to try to make it a shootout. Their defense just isn't good enough to compete with Boise State, and the Broncos have one of the most high octane offenses in the land as well. This isn't a test like that of the Virginia Tech Hokies earlier in the season. This is a legitimate home game against a long time rival, and it isn't an opportunity that Boise State figures to pass on in its showcase season. QB Bryant Moniz is going to be in for his biggest test of the season, even bigger than when the USC Trojans paid a visit to the Big Island. Hawaii has the longest ATS winning streak in the nation coming into this week at six games, but that all comes to a close as QB Kellen Moore and the gang put the Warriors down and move one step closer to the BCS.

Free College Football Picks: Boise State -21
Prediction: Boise State 41 – Hawaii 17

Matchup: TCU Horned Frogs @ Utah Utes
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Rice Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT
Game Line: Utah +4.5
Over/Under 51.5

Is this really the game of the year? The Horned Frogs know that the reward for winning this game on the road would probably be the coveted No. 2 ranking in the BCS next week, as they will probably hop over the Auburn Tigers, who are taking on an FCS opponent. TCU has a lot of great things going for it, including a defense that ranks No. 1 in the nation in three major statistical categories. HC Gary Patterson lives for games like this one, and he knows that QB Andy Dalton is the man that can get the job done by going on the road and taking care of the Utes. Don't think for one minute that the combination of QB Jordan Wynn, RB Eddie Wide, and RB Matt Asiata are just rolling over and dying, though. Rice Eccles Stadium is one of the more hellacious places to go play in the MWC. Here's the thing, though. Utah has struggled just a bit against some of the better teams on its schedule. Against better teams than that, the Horned Frogs just keep continuing to roll and really haven't had a close call this year. They might get challenged on Saturday afternoon, but when push really comes to shove, TCU is winning this game by two scores.

Free College Football Picks: TCU -4.5
Prediction: TCU 24 – Utah 13

Matchup: North Carolina Tar Heels @ Florida State Seminoles
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL
Game Line: Florida State -10.5
Over/Under 49

If you really believe that the garnet and gold have the best team on their half of the ACC Atlantic Division, this is the game for you. Florida State is coming home for what should be an emotion tie just a week after getting beaten at the gun in a crushing defeat by the NC State Wolfpack at Carter Finley Stadium on national TV. QB Christian Ponder is going to want to make amends for fumbling on the final drive of the game that could've won it, and the defense is certainly going to want to make up for its three second half touchdowns allowed to the Wolfpack. The Noles haven't even given up that many points in a full game this year at home. North Carolina is a mess right now, and it was lucky to survive against lowly William & Mary last weekend. The Heels are well on their way to another disappointing defeat in the Sunshine State after getting blown away by the Miami Hurricanes two weeks ago.

Free College Football Picks: Florida State -10.5
Prediction: Florida State 31 – North Carolina 16

Matchup: Northwestern Wildcats @ Penn State Nittany Lions
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Game Line: Penn State -6
Over/Under 48

Don't be overly shocked if this turns out to be a fantastic game in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions and Wildcats are both looking to improve their bowl positioning this year and they are both rock solid clubs. Northwestern has really slipped against the NCAA football odds of late, dropping five in a row. However, the Wildcats still have one of the most consistent dual threat quarterbacks in the Big Ten in QB Dan Persa, and he is figuring out on the job how he can win games in a very tough conference. The Nittany Lions are getting back QB Robert Bolden after his one week absence, and this is going to be one of the more difficult games for the youngster to deal with this year. It feels like every single season, Northwestern has this way of playing really, really tight games against Big Ten teams in games that maybe aren't of the utmost importance, and this sort of feels like one of those games. Fortunately, unlike last week against the Indiana Hoosiers, we don't have to pick a winner. We just need the Cats to stay close to stick in front of the number.

Free College Football Picks: Northwestern +6
Prediction: Penn State 28 – Northwestern 24

Matchup: Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Iowa State Cyclones
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA
Game Line: Iowa State +17.5
Over/Under 57.5

Here's the million dollar question in this NCAA football betting affair: Which Iowa State team is going to show up? Is the one going to take the field that was absolutely blown to bits by both the Utah Utes and Oklahoma Sooners in back to back weeks, or will the ISU that went on the road and beat the Texas Longhorns and smashed both the Kansas Jayhawks and Texas Tech Red Raiders be on the gridiron? It's not totally inconceivable to think that the Cyclones could still win the Big XII North, but obviously, this is a must win game. The Huskers are probably in no mood to screw around after finally making themselves the only team in this conference that really controlled their own destiny last week when they beat the Missouri Tigers. Still, we know that RB Roy Helu isn't rushing for 300 yards again this week, and we aren't so sure how healthy QB Taylor Martinez really is. On top of that, this is a ton of points to be giving a home team in a conference tussle, especially one that has the caliber enough to go bowling this year.

Free College Football Picks: Iowa State +17.5
Prediction: Nebraska 31 – Iowa State 20

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October 21st, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor
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Here at Cappers Info, we are taking a weekly look at the teams that could be ones ripe to pull off some major upsets! Check out the potentially ugly dogs that could come up and bite you in the butt in you aren't careful for the Week 8 of college football betting action!

Underdog Pick #1: North Carolina Tar Heels (+210 at Diamond Sportsbook) @ Miami Hurricanes, Saturday, 7:30 ET: Miami needs to be very, very careful in this game, or it will get picked off and be finished in the ACC Coastal Division this year. The Canes have never really had much success against North Carolina, going just 2-4 SU and 0-5-1 ATS in six tries since joining the ACC. The Tar Heels are very quietly one of the best ATS teams in the nation this year, and all of a sudden, four straight foes, some of which have relatively potent offensive units, have been kept in the teens in scoring. In those games, North Carolina is 4-0 SU and ATS. Miami really slacked off last week against the Duke Blue Devils, which is the only game that we have to work with after the debilitating loss against the Florida State Seminoles two weeks ago. This is a bad, bad spot for "The U," even at home, and with HC Randy Shannon not really having much in the way of a reputation for getting his team up after it has been eliminated from National Championship contention, we think that this is an absolutely fantastic price on the men from Tobacco Road.

Underdog Pick #2: Kansas Jayhawks (+400 at Diamond Sportsbook) vs. Texas A&M Aggies, Saturday 7:00 ET: We tend to think that the Aggies are a train wreck waiting to happen right now. QB Jerrod Johnson has had some iffy game over the last few weeks, and we tend to believe that he might be in for a disastrous outing in this one. This looks way too much like the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, when the Jayhawks came out of nowhere to pull off an outright upset. This is historically a relatively close series, and HC Turner Gill has a crew that badly needs to get back in the saddle after losing 59-7 and 55-7 in their last two games. A&M hasn't won in four tries, and this could potentially be a disaster waiting to happen. Go big or go home, right? We'll take Rock Chalk to make matters worse for HC Mike Sherman and company on Saturday.

Underdog Pick #3: Washington Huskies (+210 at Diamond Sportsbook) @ Arizona Wildcats, Saturday, 10:15 ET: Arizona is going to be debuting a new QB this week in either Matt Scott or Bryson Beirne, and both are likely to take snaps against the Huskies. U-Dub knows who its quarterback is, and QB Jake Locker is still on the rebound from that awful game he had against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Don't kid yourself: The Huskies are legit. This is a team that can be the Oregon Ducks and win the Pac-10 this year if given the opportunity and the chips fall properly. We aren't so sure that this line is right even if QB Nick Foles didn't injure he knee. With Foles not in the fold, we tend to believe that the Huskies should be favored. You betcha we're backing them to win this game at least one out of three times!

Underdog Pick #4: Tennessee Volunteers (+500 at Diamond Sportsbook) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide, Saturday, 7:00 ET: Remember when we backed Tennessee playing in the Bayou against the LSU Tigers and came up that one play short of a very similar upset? The Tide need to be very careful once again, as we think they are absolute in the danger zone to get knocked out of the BCS National Championship picture. This is the third straight week in which Alabama is taking on a foe coming off of a bye week, and the last time that it played a game like that on the road, the South Carolina Gamecocks picked it off. This isn't quite the same team, but it isn't quite the same setting either. Rocky Top at night is a horror to go play at for the opposition. Yes, the Vols were blown out at night by the Oregon Ducks, but this is a totally different scenario in a conference battle. Tennessee fell just short last year, winning 12-10 in Tuscaloosa, and we absolutely think that it is taking this tussle at least one out of five times, especially knowing how horrendously tired the Crimson Tide must be of playing tough teams.

Underdog Pick #5: LSU Tigers (+180 at Diamond Sportsbook) @ Auburn Tigers, Saturday, 3:30 ET: The marquee game of the day is going to be one of the big upsets of the weekend as well. The Bayou Bengals just have a fantastic setup in this one. Their defense is speedy enough to take care of the X-Factor with QB Cam Newton, something that the defense of the Arkansas Razorbacks didn't have. Their offense has the right tools with the short passing game and hardnosed running game to really frustrate the Auburn defense. The scheduling spot is just perfect as well. LSU had its letdown game from when it beat the Florida Gators already, as it struggled with McNeese State at times. Auburn is just coming off the biggest win of the year, and it came in a game that was significantly closer and significantly tougher than the final score suggests. These Tigers have had a ton of lives this year already, squeaking out wins against the Clemson Tigers, South Carolina Gamecocks, Kentucky Wildcats, and now the Hogs as well. At some point, luck is going to run out at Jordan Hare Stadium. That luck runs out on Saturday.

Underdog Pick #6: Utah State Aggies (+140 at Diamond Sportsbook) vs. Hawaii Warriors, Saturday, 5:00 ET: We were just going to leave it at five underdog plays this week, but this one might be the best spot of the bunch. The Aggies are in a perfect spot, just like LSU is in this weekend. They are coming off of a bye week and are welcoming in Hawaii, which just came off of its biggest win of the season against the Nevada Wolf Pack. Yes, this offense can sling the ball all over the field, and yes, it will get its scores, but if you remember properly, this was also an offense that was really screwed up by the Colorado Buffaloes' defense on the road earlier this season. We've said it time and time again. Hawaii just isn't cut out to play games away from the Big Island. Utah State knows that this is the last gasp if a bowl game is in its future, and we thoroughly expect, just like we saw against the BYU Cougars in primetime football a few weeks ago, that the Aggies are going to come out firing on all cylinders and take down a very unsuspecting bunch of Warriors.

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October 8th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Indiana Hoosiers @ Ohio State Buckeyes
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 12:00 ET
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
Game Line: Ohio State -22.5
Over/Under 57.5

Many might think that the way to go in this NCAA football betting battle is by taking the visiting Hoosiers due to the nature of what they did last week in nearly upsetting the Michigan Wolverines. However, we must remember that IU hasn't faced a team that plays defense like Ohio State all season long, and it also hasn't played a real road test against a legitimate conference contender at this point either. We love QB Ben Chappell and think that he has the goods to be a professional quarterback at some level, but this is too tough of a matchup for him to excel. The Buckeyes had their slip last week against Illinois and lived to tell about it. Unless there is a bit of a look ahead syndrome going on with the Wisconsin Badgers coming up next week, we are sure that OSU is going to want to come back and absolutely throw the gauntlet down. QB Denard Robinson absolutely shredded this Indiana defense last week. QB Terrelle Pryor might be able to do the same. The difference is that the Hoosiers won't be scoring 35 points this weekend like they did last weekend.

Free College Football Picks: Ohio State -22.5
Prediction: Ohio State 45 – Indiana 17

Matchup: Illinois Fighting Illini @ Penn State Nittany Lions
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 12:00 ET
Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Game Line: Penn State -7.5
Over/Under 42

The Nittany Lions are out of the Top 25 this week, while the Illini nearly snuck into it after a near miss against the Ohio State Buckeyes last weekend. The bottom line for the Nittany Lions is that they are going to be overmatched by the best teams in the Big Ten all season long due to the fact that QB Robert Bolden, as a freshman, just isn't able to keep up with what the conference is throwing his way. However, Illinois isn't a top notch Big Ten team, nor is it even remotely close. This is also a team with a freshman QB Nathan Scheelhaase. Yes, Scheelhaase put together a respectable performance last weekend against the Bucks, but this game will be significantly different on the road in front of 90,000+ screaming fans in Happy Valley. PSU is going to be eager to prove that last week's loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road was merely a bump in the road, and it will do so by stomping Illinois with a strong second half, just like the Bucks did last weekend.

Free College Football Picks: Penn State -7.5
Prediction: Penn State 27 – Illinois 13

Matchup: Tennessee Volunteers @ Georgia Bulldogs
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 12:21 ET
Location: Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA
Game Line: Georgia -11
Over/Under 48

"Between the Hedges" we go for another SEC betting battle between the Dawgs and the Vols. These two teams really don't like each other, and the Bulldogs are going to want to get some big time payback for last season's 45-19 blowout on Rocky Top. The Dawgs only have one win in this series since 2005, including when the Vols came here and won 51-33 in 2006. Tennessee has covered the NCAA football betting lines in four straight between these SEC East rivals. Georgia has never gotten off to this bad of a start in SEC play, nor has it ever endured a four game losing streak under HC Mark Richt. Is this team better than its record? Probably. Is it significantly better than its record? Probably not. UGA has gotten a real shot in the arm with the return of WR AJ Green to the lineup, but the Volunteers are only going to have to key in on him to stop on this offense. Last week, when faced with a similar situation with the LSU Tigers and RB Steven Ridley, Tennessee came just one play away from pulling off the ultimate upset in the Bayou. Don't be so surprised if an upset is in the cards, and if that's the case, Richt might find himself out of a job before the beginning of next week, as 1-5 won't sit well with the Georgia boosters.

Free College Football Picks: Tennessee +11
Prediction: Tennessee 20 – Georgia 17

Matchup: Alabama Crimson Tide @ South Carolina Gamecocks
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 3:30 ET
Location: Williams Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
Game Line: South Carolina +7
Over/Under 47.5

It's easy to just make college football picks on the Crimson Tide after destroying the Florida Gators last weekend, but this is a type of challenge of the likes that has not been seen before by this team. Yes, the Tide rolled into Fayetteville and took care of the Arkansas Razorbacks with a nice surge at the end of the game. We must note that that was Alabama's one failed cover of the season to date. The difference here? The Gamecocks have had two weeks to prepare for this game and haven't really had anything on their minds but getting revenge for the game two weeks ago at Jordan Hare Stadium, a narrow defeat against the Texas A&M Aggies. We know that RB Mark Ingram is still probably the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. We still know that QB Greg McElroy hasn't lost a game as a starting quarterback since he was in eighth grade. We still know that the Tide just absolutely crippled the Florida offense last week and has the top scoring 'D' in the land. But there's something about this game that just feels different. The Ol' Ball Coach, HC Steve Spurrier has to have some things up his sleeve, and all of the tricks will be coming out of the bag in this one. This would be a defining moment in South Carolina football history if it could win this game, and we think that the upset just might be in the cards on Saturday afternoon.

Free College Football Picks: South Carolina +7
Prediction: South Carolina 27 – Alabama 26

Matchup: Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Texas A&M Aggies
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 3:30 ET
Location: Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX
Game Line: Texas A&M +5.5
Over/Under 62.5

The Hogs and Aggies have ties going back to the olden days, and this is the second straight year that they will play at a neutral site to renew old ties. Last year, QB Ryan Mallett went absolutely bananas, throwing for 271 yards and four TDs against a Texas A&M team that just had no answers. Arkansas is coming off of that crushing fourth quarter rally of a defeat at the hands of the Alabama Crimson Tide, something that clearly will not be forgotten easily. A&M has struggled trying to protect QB Jerrod Johnson, who is one of the best dual threat signal callers in the land. HC Bobby Petrino has been scheming for this one for two weeks. We also tend to believe that the Hogs have the ability to play with the Crimson Tide, therefore they can beat anyone in America. This game will probably be no exception. Last week was a shootout in which Johnson threw four picks against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and if he makes those same types of mistakes this weekend, it is going to be one heck of a lot afternoon in "Big D."

Free College Football Picks: Arkansas -5.5
Prediction: Arkansas 37 – Texas A&M 21

Matchup: Michigan State Spartans @ Michigan Wolverines
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 3:30 ET
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Game Line: Michigan -4.5
Over/Under 62.5

This game has the potential to have some real fireworks in it, as the "Big Game" has really not been this big in a number of years. The Wolverines and Spartans are both 5-0 and both think that this is the year that they can go to the Rose Bowl. However, both have a history of this being the time of year that they fold up shop and are never heard from again, and that's exactly what they're both trying to avoid. For HC Rich Rodriguez, this game is even more important. The Spartans are on house money, and regardless of whether every single game down the stretch is lost or not, HC Mark Dantonio's job is safe after that fake field goal call that beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Rodriguez… not so much. What Rich Rod does have on his side is the most dynamic player in the country, QB Denard Robinson. He'll become the first man to get to 1,000 rushing yards in all likelihood in this game, and he'll also be well over the 2,000 yard mark for the year between rushing and passing when it's all said and done. The Spartans have never faced a team with this type of an offense and haven't played a true road game this year (the one "road game" was "at" Florida Atlantic… at Ford Field). It will be up to RB Edwin Baker and RB Le'Veon Bell to control the clock and keep Robinson off the field. However, Big Blue has struggled trying to stop the pass this year, not the rush. In fact, this is the worst rated pass defense in the nation at over 307 yards per game. Still, if QB Kirk Cousins can't get going in a big way, Michigan is going to end up rolling over the Spartans. This game means too much to the maize and blue to be beaten. A bowl game will be a guarantee when Saturday is over.

Free College Football Picks: Michigan -4.5
Prediction: Michigan 40 – Michigan State 28

Matchup: Virginia Cavaliers @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 3:30 ET
Location: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Game Line: Georgia Tech -10
Over/Under 47

The Cavvies were steamrolled last week by the Florida State Seminoles, but they have a shred of promise for the rest of this season. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets are still trying to figure out how they have been stung twice this year and why they are just 1-4 ATS a year after going to the Orange Bowl as the ACC champs. QB Josh Nesbitt is just as dangerous now as he was last season when he led this team to a fantastic season, but his 880 total yards in five games just isn't reflecting that. He needs to find a way to get more involved in the offense, which ranks just 58th in the land in total yards at 388.2 yards per game. Virginia hasn't been great, but sticking in front of a double digit spread, even on the road, seems like a legitimate possibility. Something's wrong with the Ramblin' Wreck right now, and we're determined to take advantage of that. GT might win it, but the Cavs are sticking around for the full 60 minutes.

Free College Football Picks: Virginia +10
Prediction: Georgia Tech 24 – Virginia 20

Matchup: Pittsburgh Panthers @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 3:30 ET
Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
Game Line: Notre Dame -6
Over/Under 49.5

Is something really wrong with the Panthers right now, or have they just run across a tough spot in the schedule? Their two losses are very respectable ones against the Miami Hurricanes and Utah Utes, and their two wins were both by respectable margins even though they were against sub-par teams. This is the first time this year that they are really on a team in their weight class, per se. The Irish finally got a big win together last week against the Boston College Eagles, and maybe that will jumpstart the season, as the next portion of the schedule just isn't that difficult. The Panthers have health concerns with RB Dion Lewis, while the Irish are still rolling offensively to the tune of 24.6 points per game. We tend to believe that that will be enough to take care of U-Pitt, which really needs to find an identity going into the Big East campaign next week.

Free College Football Picks: Notre Dame -6
Prediction: Notre Dame 28 – Pittsburgh 17

Matchup: Clemson Tigers @ North Carolina Tar Heels
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 3:30 ET
Location: Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
Game Line: North Carolina -2.5
Over/Under 52.5

The Tar Heels are still dealing with a plethora of defensive suspensions, but they seemed to overcome all of those problems last week when they really shut down the powerful East Carolina Pirates with a 42-17 victory. Clemson comes to town now with a slew of questions. The Tigers have two losses, but are defeats against the Auburn Tigers and Miami Hurricanes really that bad? However, they have two wins as well. We already know that beating the North Texas Mean Green and the Presbyterian Blue Hose is nothing to write home about. This is a very good litmus test for both teams. The difference here is that North Carolina is very battle tested and already knows what it takes to win in the ACC. The home game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets might have been a defeat, but it certainly might have set the tone for the rest of the season. UNC is the better team in this battle, and as long as QB TJ Yates doesn't put on his pick face all of a sudden, the Tar Heels should be able to snare a win.

Free College Football Picks: North Carolina -2.5
Prediction: North Carolina 27 – Clemson 20

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September 3rd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Miami (OH) Redhawks @ Florida Gators (-37.5)
Saturday, September 2nd
12:00 ET, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL

The Gators are probably going to end up dominating this game. They are out to make a real statement now that QB Tim Tebow is gone. QB John Brantley is going to be getting a good test to begin his career as a starter. Many feel as though he might be better than Tebow as a passer, though he clearly doesn't have the mobility or the inherent leadership abilities of the departed No. 15. Still, this is going to be one of the best rushing games in the country still with RBs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey. As for the Redhawks, they are coming off of an absolutely terrible season in which they only won one game. It is fairly clear that they aren't going to win this game, but they did a decent job last year sticking inside of college football betting lines. Unfortunately for Miami, this probably won't be a day in which it does that. If the Gators have a desire to win by at least six scores, they will. Brantley might cover the Redhawks all by himself.

Prediction: Florida 59 – Miami 7
Western Michigan Broncos (+23.5) @ Michigan State Spartans
Saturday, September 2nd
12:00 ET, Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI

Michigan State seems to start every single season with unrealistic expectations. This year is probably no exception even though HC Mark Dantonio is clearly on the hot seat and is probably going to have to win at least seven or eight games to save his job. The good news is that QB Kirk Cousins is back after having a very respectable first season as a starter. He threw for 2,680 yards and 19 TDs against just nine picks, and there are high hopes for him this season. Unfortunately for the Broncos, they can't say the same thing. QB Tim Hiller was one of the best that this program has ever seen. With him gone, QB Alex Carder is going to take over. Carder only threw seven passes last year backing up Hiller, but he is going to be thrown into the fire right away in East Lansing as a sophomore. Still, this is a hefty point total for Sparty to be laying against a team that could reasonably still be one of the best in the MAC if Carder can keep his head on straight. Expect WMU to beat the college football odds in this one.

Prediction: Michigan State 34 – Western Michigan 21
Texas Longhorns (-31) vs. Rice Owls
Saturday, September 2nd
3:30 ET, Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX

The QB Garrett Gilbert is going to get the first start of his career this week in Houston against the Owls, which should be a nice little warm up for the real big boys coming up in the weeks to come for the Longhorns. There are a number of returners for this team even though there were a number of players that were drafted in the first two days of the NFL Draft this year off of the squad in burnt orange. The Owls are playing this close to the vest, as they haven't even announced a starting quarterback yet. The good news for the Longhorns is that they are 8-2 ATS in their L/10 games against Conference USA opponents. The bad news for Rice is that they are just 1-7 ATS in their L/8 against the Big XII. The even better news for Texas and worse news for Rice is that the Horns have outscored the Owls by an average score of 49-10 since 2003. That sounds about right for Saturday afternoon.

Prediction: Texas 49 – Rice 10
Purdue Boilermakers (+10.5) @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Saturday, September 2nd
3:30 ET, Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN

For HC Brian Kelly, this will be his debut in South Bend and could be the most important game of his coaching career. Coaches that get off to a bad start at Notre Dame generally don't end up lasting very long, and Kelly is going to want to make sure that he doesn't blow this in a year of high expectations, especially against a team that is probably not going bowling this year. The Boilers were destroyed by RB Ralph Bolden's knee injury that is going to keep him out for the season. Meanwhile, Notre Dame is going to be breaking in a new quarterback in the form of QB Dayne Crist. TE Kyle Rudolph is questionable with a hamstring injury, and if he doesn't end up playing, Crist is going to be relying heavily on WR Michael Floyd, who could be one of the best receivers in the nation. Still, Purdue hung last year with the Irish, losing 24-21 at home. With QB Robert Marve eager to make a good debut for the black and gold, the Boilers have the potential to hang in this game, though the Boilermakers probably won't win it.

Prediction: Notre Dame 31 – Purdue 28
Kentucky Wildcats (-3) @ Louisville Cardinals
Saturday, September 2nd
3:30 ET, Papa John's Stadium, Louisville, KY

It's the battle to determine whether the Bluegrass State will be blue or red on Saturday, and the annual Kentucky/Louisville battle has even higher stakes this season. Both teams will be entering this game with new head coaches, as Joker Phillips (Kentucky) and Charlie Strong (Louisville) are both making their head coaching debuts. QB Mike Hartline is going to have a lot of experience under his belt in this one even though he is a much maligned signal caller. Louisville is changing its offense to a spread attack, which is a drastic change from the offense that Steve Kragthorpe tried running over the last few years. The winning mentality isn't quite there yet for the Cardinals, which have fallen a long way in a short period of time. Kentucky is hoping to head to another bowl game this year, and it is the significantly better team, at least this early in the year. Take the Blue State in this NCAA football betting affair.

Prediction: Kentucky 27 – Louisville 20
Connecticut Huskies (+3) @ Michigan Wolverines
Saturday, September 2nd
3:30 ET, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI

If the maize and blue don't win this game to start off the 2010 season, the Big House might be burning. HC Rich Rodriguez knows that this is his last chance to try to impress the Ann Arbor faithful before he ends up on the unemployment lines, and this game against Connecticut is a very important one to start the season. Unfortunately for Big Blue, this won't be their day. The Huskies are one of the best teams in a conference that is relatively strong this season, and RB Jordan Todman might have a field day against a defense which struggled against the rush last season. Rodriguez still hasn't settled on a quarterback either, though QB Tate Forcier sounds like he is getting the nod. We are puzzled as to why the Wolverines are favored in this one, as we aren't buying into their hype as a team that is that much improved from the one that went 5-7 last year. The Huskies are going to be dogs that are barking very, very loudly.

Prediction: Connecticut 28 – Michigan 24
UCLA Bruins @ Kansas State Wildcats (-2)
Saturday, September 2nd
3:30 ET, Bill Snyder Family Field, Manhattan, KS

The biggest question that we have in this game is whether or not QB Kevin Prince is really going to be able to play for the full 60 minutes with his back injury or not. If he can't go, UCLA is in a heck of a lot of trouble in this one. Trying to stop RB Daniel Thomas is going to be virtually impossible for a defensive line that has been beat up all offseason long for the second straight year with injuries. HC Rick Neuheisel has his work cut out for him this year. The Bruins only made the Eagle Bank Bowl on the back of their non-conference slate, as a 3-6 record in conference left little to the imagination. This year is going to be a tough grind for the blue and gold, and it is going to start with K-State getting some big time payback for last season's 23-9 loss in LA.

Prediction: Kansas State 30 – UCLA 10
Oregon State Beavers (+13) vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Saturday, September 2nd
7:45 ET, Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX

Though this is technically a neutral site game, we know that Oregon State is going to clearly be the road team in this duel. The Horned Frogs are going to try to make a huge statement for the rest of college football, proving that they deserve to be considered for the BCS Championship, not just for a regular BCS bowl game like last year in the Fiesta Bowl. A slew of returning starters on both sides of the ball are going to help that cause out dramatically. QB Andy Dalton is going to have to lead the way against a very talented Oregon State defense. The offense for the Beavers is going to once again feature both the Rodgers brothers, as Jacquizz and James are virtually impossible to stop. Though the secondary is entirely intact from last year for TCU, the front seven has two major holes to fill in the form of DE Jerry Hughes and LB Daryl Washington. We give Oregon State a lot of credit for scheduling this game, and though the ultimate reward of an upset won't be the end result, we wouldn't be surprised to see HC Mike Riley's club hang around and make things quite uncomfortable for the de facto hosts.

Prediction: TCU 33 – Oregon State 28
LSU Tigers (-7.5) vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Saturday, September 2nd
8:00 ET, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

Suspensions have absolutely destroyed North Carolina's chances of accomplishing just about anything this year. Their offseason probe is going to end up seeing 13 players suspended for this opening game against the Bayou Bengals, including four of which were all projected NFL stars and were first team All-ACC members in the preseason. HC Les Miles now knows that this has gone from a game that would be a huge boost to win, to one that might ultimately decide whether he gets to stay in Baton Rouge or not next year. LSU needs to pick it up in a big way in order to make it back to the big time in the SEC, and winning a game like this against a quality ACC opponent would go a long way. Speaking of going a long way, if QB TJ Yates can find a way to pull this one off, he would suddenly go from being a zero in Chapel Hill to a hero. QB Jordon Jefferson hopes to just not see his name as a gigantic screw up in his '10 debut with the purple and gold. It's hard to see how North Carolina is doing enough damage on either side of the ball, and in spite of the fact that this is a hefty line that is only rising, we don't see how LSU can do anything but smash it.

Prediction: LSU 24 – North Carolina 13
Cincinnati Bearcats (+3) @ Fresno State Bulldogs
Saturday, September 2nd
10:00 ET, Bulldog Stadium, Fresno, CA

Is the wrong team really favored in this game? The Bearcats are getting absolutely no respect this year after going undefeated in the regular season in 2009. Yes, it's true that HC Brian Kelly has jumped to Notre Dame and both QB Tony Pike and WR Mardy Gilyard have moved on to the NFL, but there are a number of quality replacements set to step up. The oddsmakers were burned last year when QB Zach Collaros stepped into the starting lineup in place of Pike and looked like Joe Montana. Collaros is only a sophomore now, but he clearly has the tools to bring Cincinnati back to the BCS. Fresno State still has a lot of questions, none bigger than who is going to replace the departed RB Ryan Mathews, who at times last year, single handedly carried it to victory. Remember that Cincinnati traveled up to Reser Stadium last year and knocked off Oregon State in a very similar position. Expect the same on Saturday night.

Prediction: Cincinnati 41 – Fresno State 28
Wisconsin Badgers (-19.5) @ UNLV Runnin' Rebels
Saturday, September 2nd
11:00 ET, Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV

New Rebs HC Bobby Hauck made the first huge decision of his head coaching career when he named QB Mike Clausen his starter for this crucial, potentially program changing duel with the Badgers. Unfortunately for Hauck and UNLV, this is still a team that doesn't have the horses defensively to stop Wisky. Most years, the Badgers have a subpar offense and a stellar defense, but QB Scott Tolzien might be the best signal caller this team has had in well over a decade. This is also the first game of the potential Heisman Trophy campaign for RB John Clay. With Alabama's Mark Ingram sidelined, Clay might be the best running back in the nation that no one is talking about. This is a bunch of Badgers that might be severely underrated. This game is going to be the first of a slew of huge wins for a team that we think could be a big time sleeper in the Big Ten. The Badgers will round out Saturday night's slate with a monstrous victory over a hapless and unsuspecting foe.

Prediction: Wisconsin 51 – UNLV 20

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August 1st, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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For every team that is expected to have a fantastic season this year, there are several others that are probably going to be squads to stay away from in this 2010 college football betting campaign. Check out our preview of the 2010 college football odds with our five teams that you should be avoiding this year.

North Carolina Tar Heels under 8 wins (-130 @ Brobury Sports): The Tar Heels return plenty of starting talent, but it may not translate into a great year. The biggest problem is at quarterback, where the starter may not be named until late August. Fifth year senior T.J. Yates may be supplanted by freshman Brynn Renner. At wide receiver, the Heels have plenty of weapons in Greg Little, Jheranie Boyd, and Erik Highsmith. Running back Shaun Draughn returns to the team after a season ending shoulder injury last year. The offensive line will be composed mostly of sophomores. The defense, on the other hand, is full of stars. Up front, the Heels feature DE Robert Quinn, who was last season’s sack leader. Other mainstays include all-conference award winner and last year’s interception leading safety Deunta Williams, and all-ACC cornerback Kendric Burney. Schedule wise, there may not be a guaranteed win, short of William & Mary. The Heels open with a neutral site game against LSU and then start ACC play with Georgia Tech before traveling to Rutgers. Miami and Florida State will be huge road tests, as will a home game against Virginia Tech. North Carolina is going to get banged up this year; making any bowl game would be a great success.

Penn State Nittany Lions under 8.5 wins (-125 @ Brobury Sports): The Nittany Lions are coming off an 11-2 season, but now face the task of rebuilding an offense in a tough conference. For starters, the quarterback situation is murky at best. Joe Paterno has sophomores Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin, as well as freshman Paul Jones, to choose from. With none looking impressive this spring, Penn State will be forced to become a run-first team. Star RB Evan Royster will be a major factor. At wide receiver, the team returns its top two targets in Derek Moye and Graham Zug. The experienced O-Line has its work cut out. Defensively, Penn State has several holes to fill. Bani Gbadyu will lead three new starting linebackers, replacing three NFL draft picks. DE Jack Crawford will be an impact player on the line, while the secondary will be led by cornerback D’Anton Lynn and safety Nick Sukay. After a first week tune-up game against Youngstown State, the Nittany Lions will go to Alabama. In conference, Penn State avoids Wisconsin, but will have to face Iowa and Ohio State on the road. Seven wins would be a great success this year.

Auburn Tigers under 8.5 wins (-120 @ Brobury Sports): Auburn faces a tough year on offense, putting pressure on a strong defense. The Tigers, for the third straight year, will need a new starting quarterback. Cameron Newton, former backup to Tim Tebow, appears to be the favorite, beating out senior Neil Caudle and sophomore Barrett Trotter. At running back, the Tigers will have Mario Fanin and Onterio McCalebb to replace Ben Tate. Fanin proved to be a talented receiver and rusher last season, averaging 8.4 yards per rush and 9.8 per catch. Fortunately, the unit does retain its top two wide receivers in Terrell Zachery and Darvin Adams. The offensive line returns four starters, which will allow Newton time to throw. On defense, the Tigers look very strong. All four starting linemen have experience. Senior linebackers Craig Stevens and Josh Bynes will add talent and experience. In the secondary, there are four capable safeties to choose from. Auburn faces a favorable schedule, but a highly questionable offense will keep them from a nine or ten win year. The Tigers will face LSU and Georgia at home and travel to Alabama. Expect seven or eight victories.

UCLA Bruins under 5.5 wins (-120 @ Brobury Sports): Last year’s six regular season wins were sandwiched around a five game conference losing streak. This year, QB Kevin Prince will again be the starter, but with a new offensive scheme. Prince was not an effective player last year and suffered several injuries. At his disposal will be last year’s top two wide receivers, Taylor Embree and Nelson Rosario. The running game has a few options, starting with last year’s leader Johnathan Franklin. Joining him will be freshman Malcolm Jones. The offensive line returns four starters. On defense, the Bruins lose six starters, including Pac 10 Player of the Year Brian Price. However, the unit can build around a strong secondary, which includes free safety Rahim Moore. Moore led the nation last season with ten interceptions. At linebacker, the Bruins have Akeem Ayers to lead the way, but UCLA will need to find more talent to fill out the front seven. Things have to gel quickly for both units, as the schedule leaves little room for error. The non-conference schedule includes games at Kansas State and Texas, as well as a home game with Houston. In conference, UCLA goes to California and Oregon. The Bruins are going to be hard pressed to dig out five wins.

Stanford Cardinal under 7.5 wins (-135 @ Brobury Sports): The Cardinal has some work to do this season. It starts with replacing, Heisman runner-up RB Toby Gerhart. To keep the running game from sliding too far back, Stanford will use a pair of backs in Stepfan Taylor and Jeremy Stewart. The focus will shift to QB Andrew Luck, who was also last year’s second leading rusher. His passing game wasn’t stellar, but should be improving upon his 2,575 yards of a year ago. His two top targets will return, in Ryan Whalen and Chris Owusu. After them, though, there are no proven options. On defense, the Cardinal returns eight starters, but a new scheme will have them in different spots. DEs Thomas Kaiser and Chase Thomas led the team last season in sacks. The secondary is still up in the air, with no solid prospects to play free safety or fill one of the cornerback spots. The schedule offers little rest for the Cardinal, as three of the team’s first four FBS games will be on the road. Stanford travels to Notre Dame and Oregon before returning home to face USC in September. Seven wins would be a great success for an offense that is finding itself and a defense with holes in the backfield.

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February 21st, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

Cappersinfo.com begins its new bi-weekly installment of the Top 10 Teams across all of sports that you should be wagering against religiously.

Teams ranked by Score Coefficient Ranking (SCR), which takes the amount of money earned/lost over the course of the season and divides it by the number of games played in relation to games that will be played. Must have 20 games played to qualify.

1: Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks (College Basketball) (3-19-1 ATS, -$1,790) (SCR: -71.6) The Skyhawks are off the charts miserable against the college basketball betting lines this season. They dropped two more ATS this week to fall to just 3-19-1 on the season. In comparison, last season's worst ATS squad, Fordham, at least went 6-20 ATS.

2: Pepperdine Waves (College Basketball) (6-16-1 ATS, -$1,160) (SCR: -46.4) Pepperdine ran into a "tidal wave" of sorts last week when they faced an angry Gonzaga team off of its loss to Loyola-Marymount. The Waves fell behind 40-19 early and never really found any traction to give them a chance in the second half. Thank goodness that this season is just about over for Pepperdine.

3: Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans (College Basketball) (6-15-2 ATS, -$1,050) (SCR: -42.0) UALR's nightmarish season is fortunately almost over as well. The Trojans were crushed 83-65 at North Texas on Saturday for their fifth straight SU loss (1-4 ATS). They good news is that their only games left in the regular season are at home. The bad news is that they're just 2-5-2 ATS there.

4: Tulsa Golden Hurricane (College Basketball) (7-16-1 ATS, -$1,060) (SCR: -37.9) The Golden Hurricane may have visions of March Madness dancing in its head, but it hasn't treated NCAA basketball betting fans well at all. SU losses to UTEP and Marshall this week dropped Tulsa to 0-9 ATS in its L/9, which has it plummeting towards the top of this list and falling towards the NIT just as quickly.

T-5: Cincinnati Bearcats (College Basketball) (6-14 ATS, -$940) (SCR: -37.6) Same for you, Cincinnati! That win you had at UConn last weekend was the only real thing you've had going for you in quite some time. You're just 4-6 SU and 2-8 ATS in your L/10 games, all in Big East play.

T-5: LaSalle Explorers (College Basketball) (6-14 ATS, -$940) (SCR: -37.6) LaSalle's six-game ATS slide came to an end over the course of the week in a 68-54 loss at Dayton. It feels like this team has alternated good defense efforts and miserable ones for weeks now. Just look at the Explorers' L/5 games… 68 vs. Dayton, 103 vs. Duquesne, 68 vs. St. Louis, 90 vs. Rhode Island, 64 vs. Temple… If the Bonnies are paying attention to this trend, they should be going for at least 80 come Sunday!

7: North Carolina Tar Heels (College Basketball) (8-17 ATS, -$1,070) (SCR: -36.9) The abortion known as the 2009-10 season for the defending national champion UNC Tar Heels took another body blow on Saturday in the form of a 71-67 loss at Boston College. That's 1-6 ATS now in Carolina's L/7 overall.

8: South Alabama Jaguars (College Basketball) (9-17-1 ATS, -$970) (SCR: -34.6) The Jaguars may have that win against Florida earlier this season to fall back on, but lately, things in the Sun Belt have been terrible. South Alabama dropped its two games this week by a combined 57 points. Yikes!

9: Toronto Maple Leafs (Hockey) (27-34 ATS, -$2,760) (SCR: -33.7) It's hard for an NHL or NBA team to crack into this list considering how even the teams are on a nightly basis, but the Maple Leafs got the job done! Toronto is just 2-9 in its L/11 games and allowed at least four goals in six of the 11. The All-Star Break couldn't have come at a better time for this team.

10: Washington Huskies (College Basketball) (9-17 ATS, -$970) (SCR: -33.5) It should come as no surprise that at least one Pac-10 team made an appearance on this list, and it's only fitting that it is a Washington team that was picked to be a big time team out of this conference doing the deed. The Huskies beat the snot out of UCLA this weekend, but that loss to USC as 9.5-point favorites didn't help matters any.

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